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>>Have you never read ACTS and how Peter stands up at the First Council and settles the argument with Paul.<<

Yep, I have read and studied it. Peter stands to affirm that indeed the Jews and the Gentiles should all be the same when it comes to salvation. Then it was Barnabas and Paul’s turn after which it was James who at the end of the conference gives his decision.

Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Clearly it was James who was the leader in Jerusalem.

I always thought it was Peter who spoke on the circumcision of the Gentiles.

Acts: 15

Council of Jerusalem. 1 ^* Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,^a “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,^b you cannot be saved.”^* 2Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question. 3They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them. 5But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”

6 ^* The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter. 7 ^* After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, “My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.^c 8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us.^d 9He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.^e 10Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?^f 11On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,^g in the same way as they.”^* 12The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

And I always thought that James was addressing dietary laws:

Acts: 15:

28^k ‘It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, 29namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’”^l